Transcript Highlights:

• The critical access hospitals are... are entities that we recruit for.
• In order to make it in private practice, you have to be able to see 15 to 20 patients a day just to cover
• There's an entity just like us in every state, and we combine resources to be able to.
• A recruitment entity to recruit for everyone and also to supply supplemental money for salary and benefits
• Wife said, you're not doing that other work anymore, that there was an entity that worked to find candidates

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• now there could be a cost and I'll acknowledge if a pension wants to use a particular service or entity
• Based off of whatever pool we save for kids who should be covered by OLAP, that dollar amount then goes
• We're getting rid of covered parking lots in Tulsa.
• Basically cover their bonds. You are recognized for a follow-up. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• be inclusive of the screeners and things like if we didn't designate a specific screener, it still covers

Bills: HB4420 , HB3974 , HB3016 , HB3062 , HB3021 , HB3145 , HB4128 , HB3131 , HB3015 , HB3472 , HB3453 , HB1638 , HB4126 , HB2696 , HB2710 , HB3552 , HB3031 , HB3544 , HB3521 , HB4490 , HB4488 , HB1746 , HJR1069 , HB4428 , HB4429 , HB1170 , HB3538 , HB4124 , HB3904 , HB4106 , HB2999 , HB3982 , HJR1077 , HB3464 , HB2588 , HB3462 , HB4440 , HB3674 , HB3345 , HJR1067 , HB4326 , HB4331 , HB4337 , HB4338 , HB4359 , HB4392 , HB3557 , HJR1076 , HB4003 , HB3495 , HB3497 , HB3501 , HB3505 , HB3749 , HB3011 , HB4336 , HB4346 , HJR1087 , HB3240 , HB3647 , HB3796 , HB3969 , HB3972 , HB3983 , HB3984 , HB3989 , HB3383 , HB3130 , HB4358 , HB3327 , HJR1055 , HB3386 , HJR1089 , HB3087 , HB2970 , HB3314 , HB4129 , HB4199

Keywords: reading, intervention, literacy, education, third grade retention, teacher training, funding, Strong Readers Act, tort claims, inmate housing, government immunity, public trust, private prison, emergency legislation, vision screening, binocular vision, kindergarten, elementary education, health, firearm rights

Transcript Highlights:

• that doesn't have the capacity to entity that doesn't have the capacity to represent<00:48:59.280><c
• While it doesn't even really cover the cost of my long-distance travelers.
• While it doesn't even<01:04:59.039><c> really</c><01:04:59.359><c> cover</c><01:04:59.680><c> the</c>
• <01:04:59.920><c> cost</c><01:05:00.240><c> of</c><01:05:00.559><c> my</c> even really cover the cost
• of my even really cover the cost of my long-distance<01:05:01.760><c> travelers.

Bills: SB2489 , SB2310 , SB2372 , SB2426 , SB2334 , SB2925 , SB3323

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Keywords: invasive species, agriculture, biosecurity, lease provisions, environment, natural resources, flood management, vegetation removal, Kainahola stream, Hawaii legislation, trees, exceptional trees, significant trees, urban forestry, arborist advisory committee, DLNR, Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawaii, county planning, tree preservation

Summary: The committee heard several measures related to agriculture, invasive species control, trees, reef protection, and land use. SP 2489 would require Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity leases to include access, invasive-species control, and termination provisions; DAB and DLNR supported it, as did several outside groups, while the Hawaii Farm Bureau and Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council raised concerns about notice, cooperation with lessees, and placing penalties on leaseholders for preexisting infestations. The chair noted six testifiers in support, one opposed, and three with comments. SP 2310 would appropriate funds to remove overgrown vegetation from the Kohola stream. DAB supported the bill but explained that the work already completed by its contractor stopped at a DOT boundary, and that the affected parcel appears to be a DOT highway segment on ceded lands; the committee discussed whether the appropriation should instead go to DOT. SP 2372, on exceptional and significant trees, received support from DNR and Outdoor Circle, with testimony describing trees as critical infrastructure and suggesting technical amendments to committee membership and the process for recommending trees to county councils. SP 2426, which would authorize DNR to contract with private parties to maintain sunscreen dispensers at state beaches and promote mineral-based sunscreen as reef-protective, drew support from DNR and reef advocates, while another witness questioned the science behind claims about mineral versus chemical sunscreens and urged broader environmental solutions. SP 2334 would impose a land conversion fee on agricultural land converted to other uses, create a fee fund for programs including healthy soils, and require state agricultural lands to use a conservation metric. DAB offered comments, and testimony from climate and farm groups generally supported the conservation goals but questioned references to programs not yet in place and objected to language excluding solar and wind uses, with one witness urging that agri-voltaics remain allowed. SP 2925, concerning coconut trees, would recognize them as food, water, and cultural resources, require signage for landscape palms, set labeling standards, and create a tax credit for naturally managed consumable coconut trees. DAB shifted from opposition to comments, DNR supported, and testimony from cultural and subsistence advocates strongly backed the bill as a response to coconut rhinoceros beetle impacts; committee questions focused on enforcement of signage, inspection resources, and the proposed tax credit.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:29:00.480><c> by</c><00:29:00.720><c> the</c><00:29:00.960><c> nursing</c> that aren't covered
• by the nursing that aren't covered by the nursing facility.<00:29:03.520><c> Um,</c> facility.
• So, so I've had over 24 hours of asking entities to give me their insight into what they think they're
• give</c><00:58:39.760><c> me</c><00:58:40.480><c> their</c><00:58:40.799><c> insight</c> asking entities
• to give me their insight asking entities to give me their insight into<00:58:41.760><c> what</c><00:

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 118, as amended, which contains several unrelated provisions with a modest fiscal note. Nathan White of the Department of Health and Human Services explained that section 1 would change the personal needs allowance for Medicaid-eligible residents of private and county nursing homes from an adjustment every five years to an annual adjustment, increasing the state cost by about $50,000 per year. He also described section 2, a one-time appropriation of about $160,000 to make certain Hampstead employees whole for missed bonuses and lost leave during the state’s transition of the facility to Dartmouth management. White then outlined sections 3 through 5, which would create a dedicated fund for Hampstead lease revenue to cover the state’s contractual obligation to match Dartmouth capital improvements dollar-for-dollar up to $3 million. He said the state receives about $1.141 million in lease revenue in the first year, with a 3% annual escalator, and that the fund would hold lease revenue until needed for reimbursement. Members questioned how the matching arrangement would work, what happens if Dartmouth spends before the fund has enough money, and whether the state could refuse to match certain improvements. White said Dartmouth has final determination under the agreement if disputes arise, and that if the bill does not pass the state could face difficulty meeting the obligation without cutting services or finding other general funds. Several members also raised policy concerns about the personal needs allowance becoming an automatic cost driver. Brian Clark, attorney for the Bureau of Adult and Aging Services, clarified that current law requires the allowance to be updated at least every five years, but the legislature could change it in an off year if it chose. He also explained that the allowance is money residents retain from their own income, such as Social Security, as part of Medicaid cost-of-care calculations, and that the department does not regulate how residents keep those funds. No vote was taken during the discussion, and the committee paused to correct the bill copy before continuing testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:02.519><c> all</c><00:16:02.759><c> those</c> these aims I can't cover all those these aims
• So that covers section two.
• </c> the required information so that covers the required information so that covers section two<00:41
• </c><01:31:27.840><c> subject</c> consultation with other entities subject consultation with other entities
• that ground but though we've covered that ground but there<02:00:00.679><c> is</c><02:00:01.040><c>

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• CAPRA is the state's rainy day fund and covers emergency repairs and hazardous material abatement for
• 41.480><c> and</c> Capra is the state's rainy day fund and Capra is the state's rainy day fund and covers
• emergency</c><00:03:42.560><c> repairs</c><00:03:43.159><c> and</c><00:03:43.400><c> hazardous</c> covers
• We can cover 50% of the cost of the public infrastructure needed to support business expansion.
• </c> seven County Metro Area uh we can cover seven County Metro Area uh we can cover 50%<01:18:02.600

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• location in the name of the hospitals, but that there was something done to say, okay, these are the entities
• So I think that's the address, the state policy, why don't they cover,... ...address the state policy
• Why don't they cover enough funding for medical patient treatments?
• So the new data based on April 15th is that this money will cover the distress loans that we are—the
• be the best business mind in the world, and if something costs you $100 and you're getting $70 to cover

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Summary: The committee heard AB 108, a budget bill junior that would amend the 2025 Budget Act to create a one-time $25 million General Fund grant program at HCAI for hospitals in immediate and significant financial distress. The bill also included a technical change related to property tax deferments for eligible low-income seniors. Finance explained that eligible hospitals would have to be not-for-profit, have less than 10 days cash on hand, show best efforts to exhaust other financing, and have a payer mix of more than 50% government payers and uninsured patients; the bill also gives HCAI expedited contracting and rulemaking authority. Members and the LAO noted the proposal is intended as a short-term bridge until July 1, while broader hospital support is expected in the May Revision and next year’s budget. Much of the discussion focused on whether $25 million is enough, how many hospitals would qualify, and whether the 10-day cash threshold is too narrow. Several senators argued the administration had not provided enough data or a clear methodology, and raised concerns about fairness compared with the earlier Distressed Hospital Loan Program, which used broader criteria and provided loans rather than grants. Members also raised broader policy issues affecting hospital finances, including Medi-Cal reimbursement rates, seismic retrofit costs, federal funding changes, and the need for better data and more immediate assessment of hospital distress. The LAO said the current proposal is narrower than the prior loan program and emphasized the need for better reporting and analysis going forward. Public commenters, including the California Hospital Association, district hospital representatives, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and county officials, supported the bill and urged additional longer-term funding for distressed hospitals. The chair and several members said the bill is a short-term emergency measure for a small number of hospitals at risk of imminent closure, while broader solutions will be addressed later in the budget process. AB 108 was then moved and passed out of committee on an 18-0 vote, with the roll held open briefly to secure remaining votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just through the grants that we do with local partners, whether that's the university or other entities
• many, at the current reimbursement, how many students can be enrolled in a standard ABC classroom to cover
• That may be something that you've covered, and it was under an acronym that I didn't recognize.
• the federal grant, I think that could open up more dollars to providers, reducing seats and helping cover
• They hire everything and cover the entire spectrum.

Summary: The committee met to review the minutes and then held a workshop-style discussion with Arkansas Department of Education early childhood officials about the state’s early learning programs, funding, and access. Officials explained that the state-funded ABC program has been largely flat for years, rising from $11 million to about $14 million in 2018, while the federally funded SRA/CCDF side is much larger. They described differences between the programs, including ABC’s 10-month school-year structure, current enrollment of about 23,000 children in ABC and about 14,871 in SRA, and a SRA wait list that has grown to roughly 2,971 children. Members raised concerns about rural access, school-based versus community-based providers, reimbursement rates, and the need to align early childhood funding with K-12 and kindergarten readiness goals. A major topic was the recent $14.741 million PDG B-5 competitive grant. Officials said it is a one-year systems-building grant, not a direct services grant, and will support local leads, CLASS observations, workforce efforts, and data systems while helping offset some costs that otherwise would have been paid through CCDF. Members also discussed the end of a federal pre-K funding stream in June, with children either moving into ABC slots or requalifying for SRA, and the state’s new enrollment-based payment approach, which officials said saved about $576,000. The committee also heard that the current cost-of-care study is about three years old and that a new market-rate survey is being planned. Several members questioned dual enrollment in home visiting/HIPPY and ABC, with officials saying about 1,200 children are enrolled in both and that limiting double enrollment could save about $2.4 million and affect roughly 470 children. Members also asked about provider closures after rate changes; officials said eight providers cited funding as a reason for closing, while 26 new providers have been added under the new rates. The discussion ended with broad agreement that the committee should continue regular updates, keep providers and families informed, and explore policy changes, waivers, and possible state investments to improve stability, access, and quality in early childhood education.

Transcript Highlights:

• ensure that the... decision protocol to provide transparency and accountability and to ensure that entities
• GET account values are measured in units, with 100 units covering one year of resident undergraduate
• Get account values are measured in units, with 100 units covering one year of resident undergraduate
• By covering the remaining tuition and pairing it with wraparound supports, this bill allows educators
• These students show real strength, but strength alone does not cover tuition, rent, books, or transportation

Bills: HB2438 , HB2422 , HB2525 , HB2586 , HB2337 , HB2311 , HB2286 , HB2324 , HB2363 , HB2098 , HB2088

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: education, scholarship, early childhood, funding, higher education, early education, support, degree seekers, private security, security guard, armed security guard, security company, licensing fees, license renewal, endorsement fee, fingerprints, background check, workforce retention, low-wage workers, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent District 60, which covers the south side of Rio Rancho. I'm excited to be here again.
• I represent House District 63, which covers the south half of Curry, the north half of Roosevelt, all
• Those are areas that we cover.
• We received $250,000 in recurring RPSP funding to support that program, as well as $450,000 to cover
• We have one that works here in town at a home healthcare hospice. entity, and then we have two students

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• AND SENATOR YARBOROUGH WILL COVER FOR SENATOR GRALL, VACCINATION LITIGANTS, LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A DELETE
• THIS WOULD EXPAND THE FLORIDA VEXATIOUS LITIGANT LAW TO COVER A WIDE RANGE OF VEXATIOUS LITIGANTS IN
• THE DECEASED ESTATE MAY COVER FOR LOST WAGES OR OTHER EARNINGS, MEDICAL AND FUNERAL EXPENSES PAID BY
• DEATH ACT WHICH MAY ALLOW PARENTS TO RECOVER INCREASED MONETARY DAMAGES FROM STATE AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
• EXPECTANT PARENTS CAN ALREADY COVER FOR THE LOSS OF THEIR PREGNANCY FOR PAIN AND SUFFERING SO THIS BILL

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• access to fish habitat from the north, from about 150 miles to the north to 150 miles to the south, covering
• Do you approve of chocolate-covered strawberries? I do. I do. Great, great answer.
• Uh, uh, that cover the 13 of the largest populated counties.
• at the seawall, then goes all the way down to the Strand down by Shriner's Hospital, and, but each entity
• Um, we truly feel that this book has the most information about Texas between two covers.

Bills: HCR6

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: Meals on Wheels, senior services, nutrition, community support, volunteerism

Transcript Highlights:

• SO THAT IS WHAT THIS IS TRYING TO COVER. >> Sen. Arrington: ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? SENATOR DAVIS?
• STAKEHOLDERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES AS WELL AS INTERNET WORK BROADBAND PROVIDERS, MICROSOFT, OTHER ENTITIES
• IT STATES THAT FLORIDA MINIMUM WAGE APPLIES TO ALL WORKERS COVERED BY THE FLORIDA FAIR LABOR STANDARDS
• WHILE LEGISLATURE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND NOT COVERED UNDER FEDERAL LAW, DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY
• TO TAKE PROTECTIONS AWAY WHO ARE ALREADY COVERED.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rules and works with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as the compliance entity
• Shep, you covered a couple of them for me there.
• And in 2035, the projections are that sea level rise will cover those pumps up and the water will be
• And in 2035, the projections are that the sea level rise will, you know, cover those pumps up and the
• I think we're going to ask for 23 FTE this year to cover those forests.

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee met to organize for the session, confirm a quorum, and hear introductory remarks from members about their districts and interests. Chair Esposito outlined the committee’s jurisdiction and budget overview, noting a total budget of about $7.2 billion, with major funding tied to the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Citrus. She also described major cost drivers such as Everglades restoration, water quality, resiliency, land acquisition, and rural family lands, and asked members to review agency requests in small groups later in the process. Agency leaders then presented budget and program updates. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson emphasized department efficiency efforts, including IT modernization, staff reorganization, rural and family lands conservation, best management practices, Fresh From Florida marketing, hurricane recovery loans for farmers, and completion of the Connor Complex headquarters. DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert highlighted record investments in Everglades restoration, water quality projects, resilience grants, land acquisition, state parks, and enforcement. FWC Executive Director Roger Young discussed conservation research, fisheries and wildlife management, law enforcement, disaster response, and pressures from growth, boating, invasive species, and derelict vessels. Department of Citrus Executive Director Shannon Shep reviewed the industry’s decline due to hurricanes and citrus greening, current research and marketing efforts, and e-commerce campaigns to support Florida citrus sales. Members asked questions about citrus production declines, future replanting and therapies, rural family lands, PFOS cleanup, mangrove restoration, flooding and pump infrastructure, agricultural theft, and derelict vessel removal. Officials generally responded with updates, emphasized science-based management and enforcement, and in several cases said they would follow up with more detailed information later. No formal votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair directing members to provide feedback on agencies for further budget review and then adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• or be subjected to discrimination by such entities.
• or be subjected to discrimination by such entities.
• or be subjected to discrimination by such entities.
• or be subjected to discrimination by such entities.
• /c><05:10:38.840><c> entities</c> by such entities by such entities so<05:10:40.240><c> when</c><05:10

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of the California Coalition on Workers' Compensation and Prism, which is a JPA that serves public entities
• We're simply asking them to ensure that it covers the full scope of what their workers are actually experiencing
• It does not change who is covered by prevailing wage.
• I'll just quickly go over a few highlights my colleagues covered.

Summary: The Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee heard and advanced several bills covering workers’ compensation transparency, public pensions, prevailing wage, workplace harassment training, and employee benefits. AB 1048 would require disclosure of the contract justifying reduced workers’ compensation payments to medical providers; supporters said it would improve transparency without changing reimbursement rates, while opponents argued the problem was overstated and existing dispute remedies were sufficient. AB 1601 would give Sonoma County flexibility to target a cost-of-living adjustment for retirees rather than requiring an all-or-nothing COLA; county and union witnesses said retirees have gone without a COLA since 2008 and have lost purchasing power, and the bill passed unanimously. AB 1439 would commission a UC Berkeley study on labor standards in pension-funded real estate and infrastructure projects; labor groups supported it, while local governments, housing, and industry groups opposed it, and it passed on a 4-1 vote after one senator voted no in committee. The committee also heard AB 1697, which would delay implementation of a prior law restricting certain employment debt and pay-to-quit arrangements until 2027; the author said the delay would give employers, including professional sports leagues, time to adjust, while a financial services group sought a further delay to 2028. AB 1803 would require anti-hate speech content in existing workplace harassment training for employers with five or more employees; supporters cited rising antisemitic and other hate incidents and said the bill would help workers recognize and report hate, while opponents raised First Amendment concerns and argued existing harassment law already covers hostile conduct. AB 2120 would extend Los Angeles Unified’s selective certification hiring authority and allow retention of specialized employees in layoffs, and AB 2292 would bar providers from charging administrative fees for disability insurance and paid family leave certification forms; both drew support and were advanced without opposition testimony. AB 1198, the Fair Pay for Construction Workers Act, would require prevailing wage to be based on the time work is performed rather than the date a project is advertised for bid. Labor and contractor supporters said the current rule can lock in outdated wages and underpay workers on long projects and change orders, while cities, counties, and contractor groups warned it would create uncertainty, raise costs, and jeopardize projects funded by fixed grants or bonds. After testimony and questions, the committee voted to send all of the bills forward, with final recorded votes later showing unanimous or near-unanimous approval and several measures placed on call before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• duties for the first time, with civil penalties for blatant non-compliance and funds directed back to cover
• It would cover all mass fatalities regardless of the cause. So, that would be a yes? Yes. Okay.
• also allowed us to see what was happening on the ground through the use of press drones to actually cover
• It just adds the governor's Texas non-profit. ...Council to the list of entities the attorney general

Bills: HB1 , HB 2 , HB 3 , HB 5 , HB20 , HB 22

Keywords: youth camps, emergency preparedness, safety standards, health regulations, camp licensing, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license

Summary: The committee meeting primarily focused on the discussion and passage of several key bills, including SB5, which pertains to supplemental appropriations for disaster relief. This bill was passed unanimously, highlighting the committee's commitment to addressing disaster preparedness. HB20, aimed at reducing fraudulent charitable solicitations during disasters, also saw significant debate, with positive sentiments expressed by its sponsor, Mr. Darby. Additionally, HB22, which expands the authority of the comptroller to fund emergency communication systems, was passed with overwhelming support, indicating a consensus on improving emergency response capabilities within the state. The session concluded with discussions about future legislative measures aimed at strengthening infrastructure against disasters.

Transcript Highlights:

• are a certain type of tax dollar um it provides for um name address and summary description of the entity
• It's currently funded with $22 million a year, which covers 1800 departments, and those 1800 departments
• cover, um, 89% of the state.
• And as I mentioned, 89% of our state is covered by these 1800 departments that we're not funding.

Bills: HB104

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tax rate election, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, de minimis rate, local government, special district, tax increase, tax notice, public hearing, tax code, Health and Safety Code, Texas property taxes, taxing unit, election threshold, two-thirds vote, majority vote, budget approval

Transcript Highlights:

• Stephen Fielder from CFO Jimmy Patronis's Department of Financial Services will be covering the My Safe
• How much does your insurance company cover you for that structure? Okay?
• the homeowner puts up $5,000, then you would put up $10,000 because it's two to one, and that would cover
• In the PALM world, In the PALM world, when I say agencies, it really is any entity that is using FLAIR

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee heard presentations from the Department of Financial Services on the My Safe Florida Home program, the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot, and the Florida PALM financial system replacement project. For My Safe Florida Home, Stephen Fielder explained the wind-mitigation grant program, including its inspection-first process, two-to-one matching grants for most homeowners, low-income exemptions from the match, and eligible improvements such as roofs, clips/straps, water barriers, and opening protection. He reported roughly 109,000 initial inspections, nearly 59,000 grants approved, 31,000 final inspections, 25,000 reimbursements, and about $240 million paid out through the end of 2024. Members asked about premium savings, contractor pricing, fraud, owner-builder eligibility, reimbursement timing, and whether the program should have a dedicated funding source; Fielder said the program is currently closed, more than 40,000 people have signed up for updates, and the office has seen some price-gouging and impersonation issues but no major fraud trend. The committee also discussed the new prioritization rules that took effect July 1, 2024, which direct grant awards by age and income. Fielder said the program used a survey of existing applicants to implement the new priority groups and that the first group was over age 60 and low-income. Members raised questions about how premium reductions are measured, whether insurance company changes or rising insured values affect the data, and whether the program can track long-term outcomes after reimbursement. Fielder said the office reports raw premium changes based on declarations pages, knows the insurer for participants, and has validated results with multiple insurers, but does not track homeowners after they leave the program or enforce continued insurance coverage. For the My Safe Florida Condo Pilot, Fielder said the program is modeled on the home program but uses association-level applications, a maximum grant of $175,000 per association, and a similar two-to-one match. He said the application window opened briefly in November and was closed quickly because available funding could be exhausted and the department is prohibited from creating a waiting list. He identified several needed statutory changes, including better distinguishing condos from single-family homes, adjusting roof requirements for flat concrete roofs, and revisiting the unanimous unit-owner vote requirement, which he said has been a major obstacle. Chair Lopez noted the pilot is intended to be a learning process and thanked DFS staff for identifying implementation issues. The final presentation covered Florida PALM, the state’s effort to replace the 40-year-old FLAIR accounting system with a PeopleSoft-based financial management system. Fielder and PALM Director Jimmy Cox said the project began in 2014, the state contracted with Accenture in 2018, cash management went live in 2021, and the project was paused in 2022 for legislative review and remediation. They said the system is expected to go live in 2026, possibly in July rather than January, and that the project has spent about $225 million to date, with a current-year budget of about $60.9 million and a projected next-year request of about $64 million. Members asked about cybersecurity, cloud hosting, project scope, and whether the system is unique to Florida; staff said the system is not Florida-specific, access is credentialed through agency identity management, and the cloud host location is confidential. After the presentations, Chair Lopez assigned members to work with specific agencies on budget review meetings, asked them to discuss agency structure, priorities, staffing, waste reduction, and other budget issues, and set a deadline to report findings in the first week of regular session. The meeting then adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, just to flag that if you do have any questions after this, there's a lot to cover and we may not
• Our hospitals pay a provider tax to cover the state portion of the cost of the program.
• In fact, Medicaid-based payments cover about 82% of the actual cost.
• It was only covering children and those with disabilities in Tennessee.
• Luckily, my son was covered bad shape.

Keywords: 00:00:22 - Call to Order and Roll Call 00:03:00 – Approval of June 25, 2025 Minutes 00:03:22 - Update on Federal Changes to the Medicaid Program 01:03:44 - State Directed Payments, Provider Taxes, and the Rural Health Transformation Fund: How Medicaid Changes Could Impact Kentucky Hospitals 01:29:42 – Public Comments 01:45:25 – Announcements 01:46:19 - Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on July 30, 2025, approved the June 25 minutes, and received a presentation from Katherine Castanza of the National Conference of State Legislatures on Medicaid provisions in H.R. 1. The presentation outlined more than 20 Medicaid-related provisions, emphasizing that the largest federal savings come from work/community engagement requirements, changes to provider taxes, limits on state-directed payments, more frequent eligibility redeterminations for expansion populations, and related eligibility/enrollment changes. She said the fiscal effects are backloaded, with most reductions occurring in the later years of the 10-year window, and noted potential significant impacts on hospital payments and state financing. She also described new funding opportunities, including a $50 billion rural health transformation fund and a new home and community-based services waiver with associated grants. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on Kentucky’s pending community engagement 1115 waiver and how it would interact with the new federal requirements. Board members asked whether the waiver had been approved, what the cabinet’s contingency plan would be if CMS does not approve it, and what the timeline is for compliance. Cabinet representatives said the waiver has not yet been approved by CMS, remains under public comment, and that the state will wait for CMS guidance before moving forward; if needed, the state would amend the waiver or submit a new one. They said the work requirement must be in place by January 1, 2027, with a possible extension to 2028. Castanza also explained that expansion adults with incomes between 100% and 138% of the federal poverty level would face new cost-sharing requirements beginning October 1, 2028, and that eligibility redeterminations would move from annual to every six months starting January 1, 2027. She then walked through provider tax changes, including a moratorium on new provider taxes beginning October 1, 2026, and a phased reduction in the hold-harmless threshold for existing taxes beginning January 1, 2028, with exemptions for nursing facilities and ICF/IID providers. Board members questioned the timing and likely impact on Kentucky, and Castanza responded that the effect would depend on each tax’s current rate and would phase in over time.